Nonprofits and other outside agencies have requested $3.58 million from the city of Midland for its upcoming fiscal year 2015 budget. Of that amount, $2.48 million is for the Midland Chamber of Commerce and Midland Center.

Advisory boards that make recommended allocations from the hotel and motel fund, city development fund and non-departmental fund based on the agencies’ requests suggested $3.43 million of the $3.58 million be funded. City Council will make the final allocation decisions when it votes on the annual budget in late August.

The two largest recommendations were $1.12 million for Chamber of Commerce’s Convention and Visitors Bureau operations and $850,000 for Midland Center operations and maintenance; both are from the city’s hotel and motel tax fund. The Hotel and Motel Tax Advisory Board recommended $15,400 less than what Midland Center originally requested.

The CVB plans to use the operation funds for personnel and promotion costs, Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bobby Burns said.

The recommended amount for CVB operations is $84 less compared to the amount approved for the current fiscal year.

In contrast, the $850,000 recommended for Midland Center operations is $58,950 more than the amount approved last year. But Midland Center requested $865,400 for the upcoming fiscal year.

Midland Center plans to use the bulk of the $850,000 for maintenance purposes, Burns said.

The recommended funding for the CVB’s Sports and Entertainment Association of Midland (SEAM) retained its $250,000 request amount.

SEAM gives grants to sports and entertainment events that attract visitors into Midland.

For every dollar the CVB receives from the hotel and motel fund, there’s an investment return of $24, Burns said. And SEAM’s rate of return from the hotel and motel tax is $67.77 for every dollar invested.

“The CVB, with SEAM is probably one of the best places for our City Council to place some money because the rate of return is so remarkable,” Burns said.

But the recommended funding for the CVB’s Visitor’s Center -- $145,000 -- is $15,000 less than originally requested. During the City Council budget workshop on Monday, staff and council members discussed how visitor centers in general are becoming obsolete in a post-Google and post-smartphone app world.

Burns said technology has changed the world, but people still visit the center, adding that he admires the council for being efficient with the allocations.

And regarding the Midland CVB overall, Burns said the CVBs in Lubbock and Amarillo receive more money from their respective city governments, but all three CVBs bring in the same amount of money.

“We’re competing with all of them with one hand tied behind our back,” Burns said. “But we also have this oil and gas business that makes it easier to compete with them.”

Susie’s South Forty request hotel and motel funds for billboards

One new outside agency funding request the city received for its upcoming budget is from Susie’s South Forty Confections, which sought $34,388 for two billboards on Interstate 20 to lure customers into the downtown candy factory and shop.

The Hotel and Motel Tax Advisory Board recommended $17,000, slightly less than half of the requested amount, for one I-20 billboard to see first how Susie’s South Forty will affect the local hotel and convention industry.

Susie Hitchcock-Hall, owner of the well-known candy business, said the billboards are meant to attract passersby not just into her factory and store, but also into the downtown area. She added that the words “free samples” will be placed on the billboards to attract the potential customers.

During the council workshop on Monday, District 4 Councilman J. Ross Lacy said Susie’s South Forty is a for-profit business, whereas most of the other funding requests are from non-profits.

“We might be setting a precedent and might be getting a lot more for-profit requests,” Lacy said.

Hitchcock-Hall said she still plans to pay for the other billboard out of pocket if the council decides to go with the $17,000 recommendation.

Hitchcock-Hall moved her factory from south Midland to downtown earlier this year after the lease expired at the former location. The downtown factory is one of the newest retail developments in the area.

Susie’s South Forty previously received $23,000 from the Downtown Midland Management District to assist with site assembly and platting. The city’s planning division also helped Hitchcock-Hall by expediting the plat application process.

The city of Midland’s proposed FY 15 budget will be available to viewing in the City Secretary’s office and city website on July 25. City Council will vote on the budget, including the outside agency requests, on Aug. 19 and Aug. 25. There also will be a public hearing on the budget at the Aug.19 meeting.